The media and crime

CRIM 100

Creepy clowns

Reports of clown sightings

By the end of this lecture you will be able to answer the following questions:

  • What are the main criminological perspectives regarding crime in the media?
  • How can crime in the media lead to moral panics?
  • Does the media potray offenders, victims, and the police a certain way?

What are the main criminological perspectives regarding crime in the media?

The media?

Ban of evil content

Media effects

Effect or influence that results from the exposure to media content.

Evolution of criminological perspective on crime in the media

Who would get in an elevator with late at night?

Who would get in an elevator with late at night?

Cultural criminology

How can crime in the media lead to moral panics?

Creating stories

The production of crime news

Moral panics

Moral panics

Stanley Cohen

  • Wrote “Folk Devils and Moral Panics: The Origins of the Mods and Rockers”
  • Popularized the term
  • Identified crucial role of the media
  • The media as moral entrepreneurs

Models of moral panics

Criminalization and decriminalization

Does the media potray offenders, victims, and the police a certain way?

Bad guys

Portrayal of bad guys includes

  • Stereotyping (ethnic, racial, young offenders, female, etc.)
  • Conveyed as “other”

Victims

Portrayal of victims includes:

  • Features of the ideal victim
    • Weak
    • Going about routine
    • Blameless
    • Unrelated to offender
    • Submissive position
    • Power/empathy: victim status

Good guys

Portrayal of good guys includes

  • Conveying the police as heroes
  • Hiding the darker side of policing
  • Projecting a false sense of effectiveness

Important content

Key concepts and terms

  • The media
  • Critical thinking
  • Media effects
  • Cultural criminology
  • Active audiences
  • Problem frame
  • Moral panics
  • Folk devils
  • Moral entrepreneurs
  • Stereotyping
  • Ideal victims